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Mike Freeman is an American sports columnist for USA Today.
 | This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Article lacks content from post-2007. (May 2023) |
Freeman has written for Bleacher Report, The New York Times, Washington Post, Dallas Morning News, Boston Globe, Florida Times-Union and CBSSports.com. He is also the author of five books, including a biography on Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden. His book ESPN: The Uncensored History, which alleged sexual harassment, drug use and gambling, was the first critical study of ESPN.[1][2]
In January 2004, Freeman resigned before starting a columnist job at The Indianapolis Star after he was discovered lying about his education, specifically falsely claiming a college degree.[3] Tom Jolly, sports editor at The New York Times, said "Mike's career here speaks for itself, he did some great work here".[4] Freeman subsequently said "There are no excuses and I have never made any. Never will either. I’ll get my degree this summer or fall and start my pursuit of an advanced degree the following spring."[5]
Freeman's columns have included accusations of racism and sexism against his colleagues in the New York press. His columns are often seen as far-left and anti-religious.[6] He was unsuccessfully sued for libel by golfer John Daly, with a circuit judge ruling that "Freeman's statements were either true or constitutionally protected opinion".[7] In 2002 Freeman called for a tougher program from the National Football League for monitoring off-the-field violence and drug use.[8] As of 2023 he is a columnist in USA Today.[9]
In addition to his journalism career, he has authored multiple books, such as Jim Brown: The Fierce Life of an American Hero, exploring the life of the NFL legend, and You Negotiate Like a Girl: Reflections on a Career in the NFL, co-written with Amy Trask[10].
His work often challenges conventional narratives and provides a voice on critical social issues, making him a respected figure in sports journalism.
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As a writer for 25 years for nationally respected media outlets, Mike Freeman is grateful to those who paved the way for him to follow his passion. But enough about his dream of becoming an astronaut or lead Trekker …
From Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser to Bill Rhoden, Jackie MacMullan, Jeff Pearlman and others, Freeman is inspired to write stories that you won’t find anywhere else. “My goal is to always keep it real,” he said.
Freeman, to date, has written or contributed to 10 books, his most recent being "Football’s Fearless Activists: How Colin Kaepernick, Eric Reid, Kenny Stills, and Fellow Athletes Stood Up to the NFL and President Trump." Freeman believes the players who protest(ed) are heroes, and their stories should never be forgotten.
Freeman is a national award winner whose accolades include a Library Journal “This Season’s Football Picks” (2016) for the book he wrote with former Oakland Raiders CEO Amy Trask, "You Negotiate Like a Girl: Reflections on a Career in the National Football League."
In 2005 he became one of a handful of writers to have at least three nominations in the Associated Press Sports Editor’s writing contest with three in the top 10. He won the Florida Sports Writers Association Shelby Strother Award for that year’s outstanding sports journalist in the state’s largest circulation category the same year. His book "Bloody Sundays: Inside the Dazzling, Rough-and-Tumble World of the NFL" was named a New York Times notable book in 2003.
A native of Baltimore, Md., Freeman attended the University of Maryland University College from where he received his undergraduate degree, and went on to earn a master’s from Goucher College. Freeman’s earlier work as a sports reporter included Bleacher Report, CBSSports.com, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, The Dallas Morning News and The Florida Times Union.
A certified private pilot, Freeman’s childhood professional goals were, shall we say, out of this world. He wanted to be an astronaut. Or captain of a starship.[11]
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